Rail passengers in Mumbai and Pune are set to get a major connectivity boost as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting Maharashtra with Ayodhya and Banaras, improving affordable long-distance travel and linking key spiritual destinations with major cities.
The two newly announced services — Banaras to Hadapsar (Pune) and Ayodhya to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai) — are aimed at providing modern yet affordable train travel, while also improving connectivity between Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The announcement comes as Prime Minister Modi visits Varanasi on April 28, where he is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for 163 development projects worth Rs 6,300 crore, giving a major push to infrastructure and transport in the region.
The Banaras–Hadapsar Amrit Bharat Express, which will run as Train No. 02531, will depart from Banaras at 4:45 PM and reach Hadapsar in Pune at 12:55 AM on the second day. The train is expected to improve direct access between Pune and Kashi Vishwanath Dham, making pilgrimage and long-distance travel easier for passengers.
The train will stop at multiple major stations including Prayagraj, Jhansi, Bina, Itarsi, Bhusawal, Manmad, Kopargaon, Ahilyanagar and Daund, before reaching Hadapsar. With this route, travellers from Maharashtra will get a direct and economical rail link to one of the country’s most important spiritual destinations.
The second service, the Ayodhya–LTT Amrit Bharat Express, will run as Train No. 02212. It will leave Ayodhya at 4:45 PM and arrive at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai at 9:05 PM on the second day, providing a direct connection between Mumbai and the city of the Ram Mandir.
This train will stop at important stations including Sultanpur, Prayagraj, Satna, Jabalpur, Itarsi, Bhusawal, Nashik Road, Kalyan and Thane, making it easier for passengers from Maharashtra to travel to Ayodhya without changing trains.
These two services are expected to benefit both pilgrims and regular passengers by offering better connectivity at affordable fares, especially for those travelling between Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
The launch of the new Amrit Bharat trains is being seen as part of a wider effort to expand railway connectivity to religious destinations while also strengthening transport infrastructure between major states.
At the same time, Maharashtra is preparing for another major transport milestone with the Mumbai–Pune Missing Link project, which is scheduled to open on May 1, coinciding with Maharashtra Day.
The Missing Link project, part of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities and improve road safety by bypassing accident-prone stretches in the ghat section.
The project will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde recently inspected the site and said that in the first phase only light vehicles and buses will be allowed to use the route.
Heavy vehicles and vehicles carrying flammable materials will initially be barred to ensure safety and smooth traffic movement.
Shinde also confirmed that there will be no toll hike after the opening of the Missing Link, bringing relief to commuters who feared higher travel costs.
With the launch of two new long-distance trains and the opening of the Missing Link expressway project, Maharashtra is set to witness a major improvement in both rail and road connectivity over the coming days.
